Clamp



Nov. 24, 1942. I H. R. sYBlE CLAMP Filed J'uly 27, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l ppi ZIM "if 'Il 5515 J5 J H. R. soBiE Nov. 24,' 1942.

CLAMP Filed July 27, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Harold fobie Patented Nov. 24, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE aio/2,920V

CLAMP Harold R. Sobie, Grand Rapids, Mich. Application July 27, 1940, serial'No. 347,925

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to clamps, and more particularly to clamps for securing together and maintaining in assembly various parts of mausoleum vaults.

The primary objects of the invention are to provide cooperable clamping members for removably securing in position the front sealing slabs of mausoleum vaults; to provide such clamping means which secure these front sealing slabs in position in such 'a manner that one individual vault may be opened without disturbing the sealing slabs of the other vaults; to provide such clamping means which incorporate universal adjustability whereby the front sealing slabs of the vaults may be perfectly aligned and whereby inaccuracies of the mausoleum construction may be compensated for; to provide such clamping means which may be adapted for use in mausoleums either of slate construction or of conventional concrete construction; and to provide such clamping means which are simple in construction, reasonably economical in manufacture, and attractive in appearance.

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a tier of mausoleum vaults of slate construction, some of said vaults being shown completely sealed with the front sealing slabs maintained in position by the clamping means of the present invention, others of said vaults being shown with their inner sealing plates in position, and one of said vaults being shown open;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective View of the clamping means of the present invention' and certain parts adjacent thereto;

Figure 3 is a sectional view thereof taken on lines 3 3 of Figures 2 and 4;

Figure 4 is a sectional view thereof taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a sectional view thereof taken on line 5 5 of Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a sectional view thereof taken on line 6-6 of Figure 3;

Figure 7 is a sectional view similar to Figure 3 showing a modied form of clamp;

Figure 8 is a sectional View thereof taken on line 8-8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a sectional view thereof taken on line 9-9 of Figure 7;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary front elevational `view of open mausoleum vaults of concrete construction;

Figure l111.5 a sectional View thereof taken on lineY I I-Il of Figure 10 and showing an anchor member embedded in the concrete; and

Figure 12,y is an enlarged view taken on line i2-KI2 of Figure 10 and showing in side elevaticngthe clamping means of the present invention applied to the anchor member shown in Figure 11.

Referring now in detail to these drawings, Figure 1 shows a tier of slate mausoleum vaults I comprising vertical partitions 2 and horizontal partitions 3 separating the individual vaults I and secured at their rearward ends to the outer wall of the mausoleum in any suitable manner not shown). Each vault I is provided with an inner sealing plate 4 preferably of slate, and with a front sealing slab 5 of ornamental glass, marble, or the like concealing the inner sealing plate 4. These ornamental sealing slabs 5 together form the inner wall of the mausoleum, and for the sake of appearance it is desirable that these slabs 5 are all supported substantially in the same plane while for utilitarian reasons it is desirable that each of these ornamental sealing slabs 5 be removable independently of the other slabs. These desirable ends are attained by the clamp of the present invention.

As best seen in Figures 1-4 inclusive, a preferably integrally cast metal anchor member generally designated 6 is provided at each intersection point where two vertical partitions 2 meet with two horizontal partitions 3 and at the front of said partitions. Spaced vertical flanges 1 on each anchor member 6 embrace therebetween corner portionsof the adjacent vertical partitions 2, and bolts 8 having nuts 9 pass through aligned apertures in the flanges 'I and partitions 2 to thus secure these vertical partitions 2 to the anchor member 6. Similarly, horizontal flanges il) on each anchor member 6 embrace therebetween corner portions of the adjacent horizontal partitions 3, and bolts Il having nuts I2 likewise secure the horizontal partitions 3 to the anchor member E. The anchor member 6 is further provided with lateral flanges I3 here shown as quarter-rounds each of which flanges I3 forms,

with the vertical flange 2 and horizontal flange 3 adjacent thereto, a pocket for the reception of a corner of the inner sealing plate 4 adjacent thereto, the flanges I3 limiting the rearward movement of these inner sealing plates 4 when the latter are placed in` position.

A base plate I4 here shown as disk-shaped is secured to the cross-shaped vertical front surface I5 of each anchor member 6 as by screws I6 passing through apertures in the base plate I4 and threaded in screw-receiving apertures provided in the vertical front surface I of the anchor member 6. Preferably the base plate I4 is large enough to extend in front of the corners of the adjacent inner sealing plates 4 thus maintaining the corners of said plates 4 within the pockets formed by the vertical flanges 2, horizontal flanges 3, and lateral flanges I3 of the anchor member 6.

The base plate I4 is provided with a substantially square central opening I'I therethrough, the rearward portion of which is enlarged to form a substantially square central cavity I8 adjacent the vertical front surface I5 of the anchor member 6. A horizontally elongated block I9 is vertically slidably but non-rotatably tted within the cavity I3 and is provided with a horizontally elongated slot 2d through which and through the central opening I'I of the base plate I4 projects the threaded shank 2| of a stud 22 the head 23 of which engages the rear surface of the block I9. It will be seen that when the parts hereinbefore described are thus assembled, each of the studs projecting horizontally forwardly from its base plate Hl is laterally adjustable both vertically and horizontally, and all of these studs 22 may then be brought into perfect horizontal and vertical allg .lment preferably by the use of taut strings as gu.des, after which each stud 22 sec ely ixed in laterally adjusted position by turndown a nut 24 threaded on the shank 2| of this stud 2'2 into engagement with a washer 25 interposed between the nut 24 and the base plate l.

A supporting plate 25 here shown as square is mounted on each forwardly projecting stud 22, each supporting plate 2t having a circular central aperture therethrough through which passes the shank 2| of the stud 22. A pair of nuts 2l, are threaded on the shank 2| of stud 22 on opposite sides of the supporting plate 26 and washers 2i), Eil are preferably interposed between the nuts 2l, 28 respectively and the supporting plate It will be seen that by turning the nuts ill', 23 against the washers 29, 3d on opposite sides of the supporting plate 26, the supporting plate may be securely xed on its stud 22 and in forwardly-rearwardly adjusted position thereon. Thus the supporting plates on all of the projectstuds 22 may at the time of their installation be permanently set in the same plane.

Each supporting plate 26 is provided with a pair of forwardly extending horizontal supporting ilanges 3l disposed on opposite sides of the stud 22, which supporting flanges 3| support the ornamental front sealing slabs 5 at the corner portions of these slabs, said corner portions being cut away at 32 to aiTord clearance between the slabs E and the nut 23 and washer An internally screw-threaded ornamental knob is mounted on the forward end of the shank 2| of each stud 22, which knobs 33 are turned into engagement with the corner portions of the adjacent slabs 5 to securely clamp the slabs between the knobs and the supporting plates 2S. Thus the rnamental front sealing slabs 5 are securely maintained in a set plane, and it will be seen that any one of these slabs 5 may be removed ai 'er first loosening the securing knobs 33 with- 1 the necessity of removing any other slab 5, inasmuch as the slab 5 above that one being removed is independently supported.

In the modified form of clamp shown in Figures '7, 8 and 9, the anchor member 61 is identical the anchor member 6 previously described. A

Cil

asoaezo base plate |41 is secured to the anchor member 61' by means of screws |51, said base plate |41 having a vertically elongated slot 34 therethrough through which passes the shank 2 I1 of a stud 221 having a head 231 disposed within an annular cavity |31 in the rear face of the base plate |41, which head 231 engages the base plate. In this construction the studs 221 are laterally vertically movable in their slots 3d and are aligned in horizontal rows only, irrespective of vertical alignment, each stud being secured in position by means of a nut 2&1 and a washer 251. The supporting plate 251 in this modified construction is provided with a horizontally elongated slot 35 through which passes the shank 2|1 of stud 221. Thus all of the supporting plates 2-31 are horizontally movable on their studs 221 and they may thus be aligned in vertical columns and at the same time set in the same plane, each supi; rting plate 231 being then secured in its adjusted position by means of nuts 2'51, 231 and washers 281, The supporting plates 251 and their forwardly extending horizontal supporting @i1 are then in position to receive and support the ornamental front sealing slabs 51 which are clamped in position by means or" ornamental lincbs 331 threaded on the outer ends oi the studs 221.

Figures i0, ll, and l2 illustrate the manner in which the clamping device may be modied to adapt it for use in inausoleums of concrete constructie In this construction, the vertical partitions 22 and the horizontal partitions 32 separating the vaults i2 are integrally formed of concrete. At the intersections of these partitions anchor members d2 comprising forwardly-rearwardly extending elongated metal bars are embedded in the concrete when the concrete is poured. rlhe rearward end of each of these anchor members 32 has an upwardly turned 1Iiange (see Figure ll) adapted to insure rm retention of the member within the concrete. The forward end of each anchor member 62 has a downwardly turned flange forming the vertical front surface 52 of the anchor member 62, which vertical front surface S52 is provided with screwreceiving apertures 3l therein for the reception of screws H52 by means of which a base plate I42 is secured to the anchor bar t2. It is evident that the base plate 42, stud 222, and supporting plate 222 may be either of that type shown in Figures 2 6 inclusive or of that type shown in Figures 7 9 inclusive.

While but several specific embodiments of the invention have been herein shown and described, it will be understood that certain details thereof may be altered or omitted without departing from the spirit of the invention as the same is dened by the following claims.

I claim:

l. In a device of the class described', a base plate adapted for attachment to a vertical surface, an externally threaded stud laterally adjustably secured to said base plate and projecting horizontally forwardly therefrom, means for securing said stud in laterally adjusted position, a vertically disposed supporting plate mounted on said stud movably to forwardly-rearwardly adjusted position and provided with a forwardly extending supporting lange adapted to support a vertically disposed slab, means for securing said supporting plate in forwardly-rearwardly adjusted position, and a knob vthreaded on the forward end of the stud and adapted to clamp said slab between itself and the supporting plate.

2. In a device of the class described, a base plate adapted for attachment to a vertical surface, an externally threaded stud laterally adjustably secured to said base plate and projecting horizontally forwardly therefrom, means for securing said stud in laterally adjusted position, a vertically disposed supporting plate mounted on said stud movably to forwardly-rearwardly adjusted position and provided with a forwardly extending supporting flange adapted to support a vertically disposed slab, means for securing said supporting plate in forwardly-rearwardly adjusted position comprising a pair of nuts threaded on said stud on opposite sides of the supporting plate, and a knob threaded on the forward end of the stud and adapted to clamp said slab between itself and the supporting plate.

3. In a device of the class described, a base plate adapted for attachment to a vertical surface and having a central opening therethrough enlarged in the rearward portion thereof to form a cavity adjacent said vertical surface, a block vertically slidably disposed in said cavity and having a horizontal slot; therethrough, a stud provided with a head engaging the rear surface of said block and with an externally threaded shank projecting horizontally forwardly through the slot in said block and laterally horizontally movable therein, means for securing said stud in laterally adjusted position, a vertically disposed supporting plate mounted on said stud movably to forwardly-rearwardly adjusted position and provided with a forwardly extending supporting flange adapted to support a vertically disposed slab, means for securing said supporting plate in forwardly-rearwardly adjusted position, and a knob threaded on the forward end of the stud and adapted to clamp said slab between itself and the supporting plate.

4. In a device of the class described, a base plate adapted for attachment to a vertical surface and having a central opening therethrough enlarged in the rearward portion thereof to form a cavity adjacent said vertical surface, a block vertically slidably disposed in said cavity and having a horizontal slot therethrough, a stud provided with a head engaging the rear surface of said block and with an externally threaded shank projecting horizontally forwardly through the slot in said block and laterally horizontally movable therein, means for securing said stud in laterally adjusted position, a vertically disposed supporting plate mounted on said stud movably to forwardly-rearwardly adjusted position and provided with a forwardly extending supporting flange adapted to support a vertically disposed slab, means for securing said supporting plate in forwardly-rearwardly adjusted position comprising a pair of nuts threaded on said stud on opposite sides of the supporting plate, and a knob threaded on the forward end of the stud and adapted to clamp said slab between itself and the supporting plate.

HAROLD R. SOBIE. 

